THE SOUTHLAND TIMBER REGULATIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 3544, 2 July 1874, Page 2

THE SOUTHLAND TIMBER REGULATIONS.

From the ‘ Southland Times ’ we take the following reports of the recent meetings of the Southland Waste Laud Board :—“ At the meeting on Monday (June 22), the Inspector of Forests (Mr M'Arthur) stated that Erickson and Co. had about 320 large square logs lying ready for export at the Wallace town junction. The logs had been out under a special license issued in terms of clause 13 of the Timber Regulations, the terms being a royalty of five shillings per tree felled by the licensees. Mr Mitchell thought that the soener the system of granting licenses at 5s per tree was stopped the better it would be for the forests of Southland. _Mr M’Arthur said the system was, if continued, calculated to completely destroy the forests. The Chief Commissioner believed that the system might be beneficially used in such cases as the erection of local bridges, but it would never do to allow people to cut timber for exportation under those special licenses. Eventually it was resolved “ That the Inspector of Forests having informed the Board that Erickson and Co., who have been cutting under a special license issued in terms of clause 13 ef the Timber Regulations, have a great number of large square logs lying at the Wallacetown junction ready for exportation, their license be suspended; and that in future no more licenses of the same kind shall be granted, unless in special cases, each case to stand on its own merits. At the meeting on June 25, at which were present Messrs Mitchell, Baker, and M’Arthur, Mr Wade, solicitor, appeared before the Board, asking that it might reconsider all matters connected with Mr Thomas Brown’s application for a steam sawmill license in the Woody Knoll Bush, Winton district. A former report by the Inspector of Forests on the bush in question was read. It stated that the bush was somewhat inaccessible, especially to settlers, and that the trees it contained were all full grown, and that if not soon used up by a sawmill, they would ere long become useless and go to decay. Mr Mitchell said that having heard the report he would be inclined to grant the application, as it would be pitiful folly to let so much good timber pass away unused. Mr Baker asked, if the license—one to cut railway sleepers, but not for exportation—were granted, what timber would be left for settlers’ fences ? Mr M’Arthur said that the settlers must certainly hav£ t}iftr her for fencing, but ho thought it would he better for all concerned if the settlers would buy their fencing, posts especially, from the sawmills. Sawn posts would last much longer than split ones, and they would be much cheaper; and if splitting licenses were put a stop to there would be less brushwood left lying about in the forests, which would, consequently, be less liable to get destroyed by fire. Mr Baker said that he would distinctly oppose the_ present license, and he w uld protest against its being granted, especially at a sparsely attended meeting of the Board. Eventually the application was ordered to stand over till the full monthly meeting of the Beard, on the second Thursday of July.